Newsroom Article

Dont Be a Tick Magnet This Summer

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Now that warmer weather has arrived we tend to spend more time outside and that puts us at greater risk of being bitten by a tick. Ticks are most active during the hotter, dryer conditions of the day. Several different species of ticks are found in our area, and some ticks transmit bacteria that can cause illnesses. Your risk of contracting these diseases depends on how well you protect yourself.

Preventing tick bites

The best way to avoid disease from ticks is to avoid the bite. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the best system for repelling ticks is to use repellents that contain 20 to 30% DEET on exposed skin and clothing. Here are some other tips to help you avoid contact with ticks:

Avoid taking short cuts through thick brush and grass

Walk in the center of trails

Check for ticks after outdoor activities

Take a shower- it helps remove non-visible ticks

Change clothes

Ticks have some tricks. They use an anesthetic in their saliva so you cannot feel it latching on to your skin. To learn more about ticks and tick-borne illness visit: http://bit.ly/RURuCi

How to remove a tick

If you see a tick on your body, remove it without delay. Do not try and cover it in oils, paints or use matches. This only delays the removal. The sooner you find and remove tick, the greater the chance that you will reduce risk of infection or disease.

Use a tweezers to grasp tick as close to skin as possible

Pull upward with a slow steady pressure

After removing the tick thoroughly clean the bite area and hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water

Symptoms of tick borne illness

If you have been bitten by a tick, and experience any of the below symptoms, you should contact your health care provider immediately.